By Amaechi Agbo

The International Olympic Committee, IOC, has approved the inclusion of badminton among the sports in the curricula of University of Port Harcourt, Uniport, Rivers State, South-South, Nigeria.

The approval was

President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria, BFN, Mr Francis Orbih who confirmed this on Monday said the federation received the approval through the Board of Olympafrica.

Olympafrica is a Sporting Organisation established by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to cater for the sporting and educational development of youths in Africa. It has its headquarters in Dakar, Senegal and the centre in Uniport is one of its affiliates.

In a letter dated 6th December, 2019, the BFN had written to Board of Olympafrica to make a case for the inclusion of badminton as one of the sports in the Centre’s curriculum. The Federation’s appeal was hinged on the fact that the centre has been the camping venue for the senior national badminton team during its preparations for recent continental engagements where the team performed very well.

The President also said that in writing the letter, the federation was of the belief that the formal inclusion of the sport in the centre’s curriculum will greatly enhance its growth and development in the country.

It was therefore with great pleasure and appreciation that the Federation received the approval of the Olympafrica Uniport Centre’s Board in a letter dated 28th May, 2020 signed by Dr. C.E. Agi.

The approval reads in part; “It gives me great joy to inform you Sir that the Olympafrica Centre of the University of Port Harcourt has been given permission by the Board of the Sports Institute to start a Badminton Academy.”

The larger implication of this development portends a great improvement in the growth of the game in Nigeria. The centre currently has a total number of six (6) sports officially in its curriculum. With badminton coming on as the 7th sport. The inclusion will be in line with one of the key agenda of the present BFN Board which is grassroots development.

Mr Orbih who was ecstatic on receiving the Olympafrica approval adding that the academy will be a major boost to the game of badminton in the country.

“This is one of the numerous achievements of the current BFN Board that has grassroots development of badminton as one of its main goals. Having a standard badminton academy in a standard sporting facility like the Olympafrica Uniport Centre will be a major boost for the growth and development of badminton in Nigeria,” he said  

Adding that “The Federation will take advantage of this development in its quest for repositioning badminton for sustainable growth.